Diesel signs for Hitman flick

Actor Vin Diesel has signed on to play the lead role of Agent 47 in the forthcoming movie adaptation of Io Interactive's Hitman series - and may also be starring in future games in the franchise.

Diesel will also serve as executive producer on the movie, which is being produced by 20th Century Fox and is the second of publisher Eidos' major franchises to make it to the silver screen - the first being Tomb Raider, which remains the largest-grossing videogame movie to date.

The Hollywood star's involvement with the franchise may not end with the movie, however, as he has also expressed an interest in being involved in future games in the Hitman series.

Diesel's game company, Tigon Studios - which previously supported the development of critically acclaimed Xbox title The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay - is set to hold talks with Eidos and Io Interactive about the games, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

A deal would see Diesel's likeness and voice being used for the role of Agent 47 in the Hitman games as well as the movie - although not in the next game, Blood Money, which was shown off at E3 last month and is due to launch this autumn on PS2, Xbox and PC.

The original Hitman game appeared five years ago, and since then a total of three sequels have been released - selling over eight million units between them.